One Mother Accidentally Applied Spray Paint Instead of Hair Dye to Her Child’s Hair

Halloween might be over, but we’re still reeling from a year of epic costumes, including an Ariana Grande Latte and a 3-year-old that stole our hearts with her Michelle Obama look. Unfortunately, the season was also filled with some unexpected costume snafus, including a dangerous encounter with colored contacts and this mom who accidentally used spray paint as hair dye.

In a now viral Facebook post, Ashlee Myers explained what happened when she accidentally confused spray paint for hair dye, The Daily Mail reported. Sharing a photo of her 6-year-old son Jacob, Ashlee shared what happened, writing, “Feel like worst parent in world. Got hair spray from pound shop right with all Halloween stuff ….Spray it on thought yeah looks ace that. Finished up thought smells a bit strong.”

She continued, noting that she looked at the packaging and realized her mistake. “Chances are i need to shave his head coz after 30 min scrubbing I CANT GET IT OUT,” she wrote. Fortunately, Ashlee later returned to Facebook with an update, noting that they used washing up liquid to remove the product.

In an interview with LADBible, the mom shared how she made the mistake, saying, “The spray was in the same box as all the other hair spray cans, so I’m not sure if was put there by a shopper who changed their mind or maybe a member of staff didn’t look at the label.”

This incident may have been an accident, but as Rebecca Merrick, colorist at Eddie Arthur Salon explained, you should never use spray paint in your hair. “What’s actually in the spray paint can be drying to the hair,” she said. “Spray paint contains aerosol so for that to go deep into your hair shaft causes dryness. If your hair is dry already it could potentially suck up the spray paint making it almost impossible to take out. Hair color is designed for this not to happen.”

Whether you’re planning a temporary DIY dye job using stylist approved products or making a trip to the salon, Rebecca strongly suggests consulting with a stylist before making any major changes. “There are many direct dyes, temporary spray colors, and color shampoos that can be used to create color,” she said. “I would highly advise going to a professional to get their opinion before doing it yourself. Everyone’s hair is different so it may work on one person’s hair but may be a disaster for the next. The best bet is using a temporary hair spray designed for the hair, which usually comes out within 2 shampoos.”